I just wanted to say that I setup an HP DL385 2 x Dual-core Opteron 275 server with 16GB PC3200 RAM running Windows 2003 x64 and Sql 2005 x64 a few months ago. (Both Windows & Sql are only the Standard Editions).

I just wanted to tell anyone who was scared to make the x64 "jump" – as long as you are setting up a name brand server (HP, IBM, etc.) with available x64 drivers that will be a *dedicated* Sql 2005 x64 machine, don’t worry about it & you wont regret it! The HP DL385 is just so many times faster than my fully loaded (although 32bit) Dell PowerEdge 2850 dual-Xeon it replaced. (My application tests revealed a speed increase between 3x-120x … I couldn’t believe it either)

I should also mention that I did some tests using the 32bit MySql (Note: there was no Windows 64bit version of MySql available at the time of my testing) on the x64 DL385 and the meager MySql results demonstrated the "magic" that happens when you put Windows 2003 x64 and Sql 2005 x64. It may cost alot more – but if you want to get the most out of your hardware, Microsoft’s x64 software will do the trick!